Italy prepares new crackdown on migrant rescue efforts

Rome: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government is preparing a new clampdown on NGOs involved in migrant rescues at sea, with fines of up to €10,000 for breaching the rules.

The right-wing Meloni government has taken a hardline approach to migrant arrivals in Italy by boat, spearheading deals with African governments to block departures and instigating automatic detention for irregular migrants.

It has made it increasingly difficult for migrant rescue boats operated by humanitarian organziations, restricting the number of rescues they can carry out, obliging them to make detours and impounding vessels at Italian ports.

Under the proposed legislation, which was scrutinized at a Cabinet meeting in Rome on Friday and is set to be approved next week, search-and-rescue aircraft departing or landing in Italy must inform the authorities of any emergency immediately and follow their instructions.

Failure to comply could lead to fines, seizure or confiscation of the aircraft.

In May, planes were banned from using airports close to shipping routes.

The Geo Barents boat belonging to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) was impounded earlier this week in Genoa after disembarking more than 200 migrants.

The new rules are part of a decree that intends to combat migrant visa fraud.

Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party have claimed success at reducing irregular migrant inflows, following a decline of more than 60 percent of people reaching Italian shores, attracting interest from other leaders concerned about immigration.

But humanitarian groups such as MSF, Oxfam Italia and SOS Humanity have accused Rome of the “systematic obstruction of civilian search and rescue activities,” which they say has cost human lives. The groups have asked the European Commission to determine whether Rome’s rules are consistent with EU and international law.